तस्य नानदतो द्रोणः शिरः कायात्सकुण्डलम्। क्षुरेणापाहरत्तुर्णं ततो मत्स्याः प्रदुद्रुवुः
As he roared, Drona swiftly severed his head, adorned with earrings, from his body with a razor-sharp arrow; then the Matsyas fled.
मत्स्याञ्जित्वाऽजयच्चेदीन्करूशान्केकयानपि। पाञ्चालान्सृञ्जयान्पाण्डून्भारद्वाजः पुनःपुनः
Having defeated the Matsyas, Bharadvaja's son repeatedly overcame the Cedis, Karushas, Kekayas, Panchalas, Srinjayas, and Pandavas.
तं दहन्तमनीकानि क्रुद्धमग्निं यथा वनम्। दृष्ट्वा रुक्मरथं वीरं समकम्पन्त सृञ्जयाः
Seeing him, his golden chariot blazing, consuming divisions like an angry fire devouring a forest, the Srinjayas trembled.
उभाभ्यां सन्दधानस्य धनुरस्याशुकारिणः। ज्याघोषो निघ्नतोऽमित्रान्दिक्षुसर्वासु शुश्रुवे
As he strung his bow with both hands and swiftly struck down foes, the twang of the bowstring resounded in all directions.
नागानश्वान्पदातींश्च रथिनो गजसादिनः। रौद्रा हस्तवता मुक्ताः प्रमथ्नन्ति स्म सायकाः
His fierce arrows, released with force, struck down elephants, horses, foot soldiers, charioteers, and riders atop elephants.
नानद्यमानः पर्जन्यो मिश्रवातो हिमात्यये। अश्मवर्षमिवावर्षन्परेषां भयमादधत्
Like a thundercloud roaring with mixed winds at winter's end, he rained down a shower of stones, filling his enemies with terror.
सर्वा दिशः समचरत्सैन्यं विक्षोभयन्निव। बली शूरो महेष्वासो मित्राणामभयङ्करः
He moved in all directions, shaking the army as if to scatter it, that mighty, heroic, great archer, a bringer of fearlessness to his allies.
तस्य विद्युदिवाभ्रेषु चापं हेमपरिष्कृतम्। दिक्षु सर्वासु पश्यामो द्रोणस्यामिततेजसः
We saw Drona's bow, adorned with gold, flashing like lightning among clouds, visible in all directions, he of immeasurable energy.
शोभमानां ध्वजे चास्य वेदीमद्राक्ष्य भारत। हिमवच्छिखराकारं चरतः संयुगे भृशम्
And on his banner we beheld an altar, shining, shaped like the peak of the Himalayas, as he moved fiercely in battle, O Bharata.
द्रोणस्तु पाण्डवानीके चकार कदनं महत्। यथा दैत्यगणे विष्णुः सुरासुरनमस्कृतः
Drona wrought a great slaughter among the Pandava ranks, like Vishnu among the hosts of Daityas, worshipped by gods and demons alike.
स शूरः सत्यवाक्प्राज्ञो बलवान्सत्यविक्रमः। महानुभावः कल्पान्ते रौद्रां भीरुविभीषणाम्
That hero, truthful, wise, powerful, steadfast in valor, of great might, at the end of an age, unleashed a terrifying, fearsome carnage.
कवचोर्मिध्वजावर्तां मर्त्यकूलापहारिणीम्।। गजवाजिमहाग्राहामसिमीनां दुरासदाम्
It was a river with waves of armor and banners, carrying away crowds of mortals, with elephants and horses as great crocodiles, and swords as its dangerous fish.
वीरास्यिशर्करां रौद्रां भेरीमुरजकच्छपाम्। चर्मवर्मप्लवां घोरां केशशैवलशाद्वलाम्
Its pebbles were the teeth of heroes, dreadful, with drums and kettledrums as its turtles, shields and armor as its rafts, terrible, with hair as its moss and grass.
शरौघिणीं धनुःस्रोतां बाहुपन्नगसङ्कुलाम्। रणभूमिवहां तीव्रां कुरुसृञ्जयवाहिनीम्
Its current was made of arrows, its stream was bows, crowded with the serpents of arms, a fierce river of the battlefield, carrying away the armies of Kurus and Srinjayas.
मनुष्यशीर्षपाषाणां शक्तिमीनां गदोडुपाम्। उष्णीषफेनवसनां विकीर्णान्त्रसरीसृपाम्
Stones shaped like human heads, spears like fish, maces like stars; garments of froth for turbans, reptiles with entrails scattered as clothing.
वीरापहारिणीमुग्रां मांसशोमितकर्दमाम्। हस्तिग्राहां केतुवृक्षां क्षत्रियाणां निमज्जनीम्
A fierce river that steals away heroes, muddy with flesh and blood; filled with elephants, bearing banners as trees, the drowning place of warriors.
क्रूरां शरीरसङ्घाटां सादिनक्रां दुरत्ययाम्। द्रोणः प्रावर्तयत्तत्र नदीमन्तकगामिनीम्
Cruel, composed of bodies, impassable, teeming with horsemen and riders; Drona unleashed there a river flowing toward destruction.
क्रव्यादगणसञ्जुष्टां श्वशृगालगणायुताम्। निषेवितां महारौद्रैः पिशिताशैः समन्ततः
Crowded with packs of flesh-eaters, accompanied by dogs and jackals; frequented on all sides by those with a terrible craving for meat.
तं दहन्तमनीकानि रथोदारं कृतान्तवत्। सर्वतोऽभ्यद्रवन्द्रोणं कुन्तीपुत्रपुरोगमाः
That river, burning the armies, with chariots vast as Death; everywhere, Drona was attacked by the sons of Kunti at the forefront.
ते द्रोणं सहिताः शूराः सर्वतः प्रत्यवारयन्। गभस्तिभिरिवादित्यं तपन्तं भुवनं यथा
Together, those brave warriors surrounded Drona from all sides, as rays encircle the sun, scorching the world.
तं तु शूरं महेष्वासं तावकाऽभ्युद्यतायुधाः। राजानो राजपुत्राश्च समन्तात्पर्यवारयन्
But your men, kings and princes, armed and ready, surrounded that mighty archer from all directions.
शिखण्डी तु ततो द्रोणं पञ्चभिर्नतपर्वभिः। क्षत्रवर्मा च विंशत्या वसुदानश्च पञ्चभिः
Then Shikhandi struck Drona with five sharp arrows; Kshatravarman with twenty, and Vasudana with five.
उत्तमौजास्त्रिभिर्बाणैः क्षत्रदेवश्च सप्तभिः। सात्यकिश्च शतेनाजौ युधामन्युस्तथाऽष्टभिः
Uttamaujas with three arrows, Kshatradeva with seven; Satyaki with a hundred in battle, and Yudhamanyu with eight.
युधिष्ठिरो द्वादशभिर्द्रोणं विव्याध सायकैः। धृष्टद्युम्नश्च दशभिश्चेकितानस्त्रिभिः शरैः
Yudhishthira pierced Drona with twelve arrows; Dhrishtadyumna with ten, and Chekitana with three.
ततो द्रोणः सत्यसन्धः प्रभिन्न इव कुञ्जरः। अभ्यतीत्य स्थानीकं दृढसेनमपातयत्
Then Drona, steadfast in truth, like a wounded elephant, passed through the ranks and struck down Dridhasena.
ततो राजानमासाद्य प्रहरन्तमभीतवत्। अविध्यन्नवभिः क्षेमं स हतःप्रापतद्रथात्
Then, approaching the king who fought fearlessly, he pierced him with nine arrows; wounded, he fell from his chariot.
स मध्यं प्राप्य सैन्यानां सर्वाः प्रविचरन्दिशः। त्राता ह्यभवदन्येषां न त्रातव्यः कथंचन
Reaching the center of the armies, moving in all directions, he became the protector of others, but none could protect him.
शिखण्डिनं द्वादशभिर्विंशत्या चोत्तमौजसम्। वसुदानं च भल्लेन प्रैषयद्यमसादनम्
He struck Shikhandi with twelve arrows, Uttamaujas with twenty, and sent Vasudana to the abode of Yama with a broad-headed shaft.
अशीत्या क्षत्रवर्माणं षड्विंशत्या सुदक्षिणम्। क्षत्रदेवं तु भल्लेन रथनीडाडपातयत्
He pierced Kshatravarman with eighty arrows, Sudakshina with twenty-six; and struck down Kshatradeva from his chariot with a broad-headed shaft.
युधामन्युं चतुःषष्ट्या त्रिंशता चैव सात्यकिम्। विद्ध्वा रुक्मरथस्तूर्णं युधिष्ठिरमुपाद्रवत्
He wounded Yudhamanyu with sixty-four arrows, and Satyaki with thirty; then, his golden chariot swiftly approached Yudhishthira.